Category: Beauty

Here I’ll be sharing some reviews on beauty products I’ve either purchased or received.

Self-Care

Published on by meganaperez2 Comments

Today I want to talk about self-care! Something I’m honestly not that great at. I get so busy that I honestly don’t realize I’m not taking care of myself until my body basically shuts down for a few days and forces me too. Which isn’t a good thing! I need to learn, just like you, how to really take care of myself!

I wanted to share some self-care tips that I have been incorporating into my daily life and have really helped me stay relaxed.

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Drinking a lot of water: I’ve noticed that my energy levels depend a lot on how much water I’m drinking. I’ve been giving myself a goal of 4 16oz. water bottles to drink a day. I even started adding a NUUN vitamin to add some flavor and extra electrolytes. Click here to check them out. Each package comes with 12 tablets that you add to your water and they are so yummy. I don’t like buying juice at home so this is a great alternative!

Getting a good night’s sleep: I am someone who needs a good night’s sleep in order to full function the next day. I try to get at least 7 hours a night. If I can get 8, I’ll take it. If you’re like me though, your mind just continues to work until the late hours of the night. I actually received this REN pillow spray in my Bless Box last week and have been using ever since. It seriously has been helping me get to sleep quick and help to relax my mind. Prior to that, I would take one OLLY sleep vitamin. Of course, it’s completely natural. But it would also help my mind calm down enough for me to actually sleep. If you want to try the spray click here! If you want to check out the vitamin, click here!

Face Masks: Every other night I have doing a sheet mask. Mainly for hydration right now because the weather has my skin super dry. Doing a face mask helps to force me sit down on the couch with a glass of water and just close my eyes for a bit. Because I can’t do anything else with those things on my face! I really love going to Target to pick up the sheet masks they have. They’re under $3 and I can pick up different ones based on the issue with my skin I’m having. If you haven’t done this, you need to go to Target today and pick some up! Here are some of my favorites! Hint…I love them all!

Devotionals: Starting my day with devotionals has really helped me as well. I notice when I don’t spend time with God, I feel off. And I think that has been the biggest issue that I have had these past few weeks. When I sat down and really took a self-reflection of my past few weeks, I really noticed that I was lacking my devotional time. And I saw how it was affecting me. If you need some suggestions on devotionals, here are some that I would recommend! I also really love my YouVersion Bible App. I can pick a devotional off of that and do that first thing in the morning. It makes it so easy to read the Word!

  • New Mercies by Paul Tripp
  • James Challenge – YouVersion
  • Women on a Mission – YouVersion

There you have it! Those are the things that I have been incorporating to get myself back on track! What are some of your favorite things to do to unwind?!

Currently Obsessed With – Beauty Edition

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I wanted to share 3 of my current beauty product obsessions!! I use these practically everyday and I’m completely in love with each.

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Kristin Ess Curly Defining Crème – So I started following Kristin Ess on Instagram a couple of months ago. Her feed seriously gives me hair envy. I just can’t even with all her gorgeous hair looks. I saw that she also had her own line of hair products so I decided to pick this one up to give it a try! So my first time using it, I used too much product. I wasn’t paying attention when I squeezed out the bottle and I got the amount of probably a quarter that I used on my hair. It kept my curl but it did make my hair feel a little too greasy for my like. When I used that much, I noticed I couldn’t go a second day without washing my hair. The next two times I used the product I kept experimenting with the amount of product to actually use to get the texture that I like for my hair in particular. It came down to using about a dime sized amount of product in my hair. Sometimes I’ll squeeze like an extra dot in there for good measure. Because my hair is on the thinner side but also curly, when I use product of any amount in my hair, I have to wash it the next day. It usually feels super greasy the next day. I still love using this product when I’m air drying my hair because it does give my curls a nice shape. All-in-all, I would recommend trying this product out.

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Pacifica Dream Big Mascara – This has been like my all-time favorite mascara. I’m so glad I impulsively purchased it. This gives my lashes such length and definition I can’t even. I’m a mascara junkie and have tried A LOT of brands. I have baby length lashes so I need something that will give me some good definition and length. Added bonus – it’s vegan and under $20!! Like come on!! I can’t get more excited about this if I tried. Once you’re done reading this post, just drive over to Target and pick one up for yourself. Don’t feel like going out? Don’t worry, I linked it here for you!!

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Pacifica Dreamy Youth Moisturizer – Because I loved their mascara so much, I decided to try their moisturizer. Another product that I love. This is a day and night youth moisturizer so it has anti-aging properties. It has Fleuracell complex with concentrated floral stem cells for anti-age. Plus, it deeply moisturizing my skin and has improved the overall radiance of my skin. Honestly, I feel like my face was starting to look super dull but now, let me tell you the glow that I have! People honestly think I’m pregnant because of it. And I’m not. Not even close. And I’m okay with that. Let my glow from this awesome moisturizer and nothing else please…. Anywho! Another product I would highly recommend. You can shop this brand here!

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What are some of your current beauty obsessions?? Leave a comment below!

xoxo, 

mp

Pixi by Petra Review

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I decided to post this week about my latest beauty purchase. I had a lot of questions about the products that I used in my Instagram post from a couple weeks ago about the make-up products that I used. This past month, I really decided that I wanted to move towards more cruelty-free and/or vegan makeup. My skin is extremely important to me (and it should be the same with you!) so I’m trying to be very conscience of what products that I’m using. I decided to start with my makeup. I researched a few brands of different levels of makeup there are. Of course, just like any other brand of makeup, you have your drug-store level and your department store level. I decided to start with something that was more drugstore level. One of the brands that I started with was Pixi by Petra. This brand is currently at Target.

Because I’m so new to the vegan makeup scene, I decided to look up some websites that are centered around everything vegan. One I found extremely helpful is The Ethical Elephant. On this site, you can search specific brands of makeup that you may be curious about and it’ll show you a list of products that specific company carries that are vegan. I would definitely recommend this site if you are new to this vegan makeup area just because it’s very helpful and easy to navigate.

Check out this video on the website and how I navigated around it:

Another website that I found really helpful, was actually the PETA.org website. Of course, this site has so much more information than just beauty and make-up, but they still have this information on there. Here is an example of how I navigated their website.

 

When I decided that I wanted to check out some new brands of makeup, of course I researched using The Ethical Elephant and the PETA website and found the Pixi by Petra brand. Of course, this brand is found at my favorite store, Target!!! So, of course, there was just an excitement in just being able to leave the house and go to Target.

So, using the information that I found on what specific items from this brand were considered vegan, (because they have a few items that aren’t considered vegan but everything is cruelty-free) I went to the beauty aisle to see what they have. I found the following items that were both cruelty-free and vegan.

  1. Correction Concealer – I used this concealer a few times. I wasn’t too in love with the color, I think I picked the wrong color. But it was really easy to use and the consistency was also nice.
  2. Flawless & Poreless Primer – I actually like this primer. It does give a nice poreless look. Also easy to use and I really liked the consistency and coverage.
  3. Beauty Bronzer – I really like this bronzer. It gives a nice color. It’s not extremely bold but it’s great for an everyday look. I’ve been using this bronzer for my everyday makeup. It still gives me a nice color even though it’s not a heavy color.
  4. Lash Boosting Mascara – This mascara is actually really great. I love the depth of color and the ease of application.
  5. H2O Skintint – This is a great light weight coverage. It’s not a full coverage makeup but it’s great for those days when you need something quick before you head out for the day. But I do love this product and have been using it very frequently.
  6. Lash Line Ink  – I also love this product. It goes on super smooth and leaves a great pigment color.

I think through using these products, I was more just surprised that these products are vegan. They were really great quality wise and I’m really happy that I tried them!

There are some other beauty brands that I am wanting to try out that are both vegan and cruelty-free that I will be sharing in another post.

What are some beauty concerns that you have? Share them below!

Xoxo,

mp

 

 

BareMinerals Foundation Review

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Recently, I was chosen to review Bare Minerals new foundation formulated just for me using their new app through Influenster. This technology is really interesting. You basically download the app and follow all of the instructions. You need to calibrate your phone camera using 5 sheets of white paper. You basically tap your phone on the 5 white sheets of paper in different spots for a few seconds each tap. Once you do that, you will do the same process except different places on your face. With those photos, they formulate the color of your foundation and personalize the bottle with your name.

Here is a preview of what the app looks like.

 

It’s actually really easy to use and really cool. I’m really surprised at the outcome. When it first arrived, I was surprised by the color. It seemed darker than I thought it would be. But once I applied it, it looked really great on my skin. The consistency was fantastic and the coverage is sheer to medium. But you can build upon that. It lasted great all-day long.

I would definitely recommend trying this foundation out. It’s really lightweight formula as well that has nourishing and antioxidant ingredients including green tea extract, Vitamin E and peptides as well as ceramide, chamomile and white lily flower.

 

If your feeling adventurous, download the app here and get your color matched foundation today! This product is reasonably priced when you think of the benefits and ingredients, and since I’m always on the lookout for great products for my skin, I thought I would share this new product with you!

What is your favorite BareMinerals product? Have you tried BareMinerals before? If so, let me know below!

xoxo, 

mp 

*I received this product free for testing purposes from Influenster but all opinions are my own. 

Dr. Brandt Product Review

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I received a few different products from Influenster to test out and I wanted to share my opinion with you all!

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Dr. brandt hydro biotic recovery sleeping mask: So, the first product I want to talk about it the Hydro Biotic Recovery Sleeping Mask. I was a little nervous to try this product only because I’ve never used sleeping masks in the past so I wasn’t sure how this was going to work. I read through the directions to make sure that I wasn’t going to mess up anything (cause normally I do!) and got to work. I cleansed my face like I normally would, used my toner and then let my face dry. Once my face was dry from the toner, I applied the mask all over my face, avoiding the eye area and lip area. It went on extremely smooth. It honestly felt like I have nothing on my face. I couldn’t believe this was even a mask. After I applied it, I went off to bed.

Now, I normally sleep on my side but since I had this mask on I didn’t want it to come off on my pillow. So, I just slept on my back on that night. Personally, once I’m in a position when I sleep, I don’t move at all. So when I woke up, I knew that the mask didn’t rub off on my sheets or anything. I got up and did my normal morning routine and right before I washed my face I examined it. The mask soaks into your skin while your sleeping so there isn’t anything that you need to like peel off or anything in the morning. But I did notice that after I washed my face that morning, it felt more hydrated and smoother. I’ve used this mask multiple times already since I’ve gotten it and I would definitely say that the results stay the same. Every time I use it, I feel like my skin just had a really good drink of water. I don’t have any more dry spots from the cold weather or anything, it’s amazing. I would definitely recommend this especially for this winter time when the air can be so drying on your skin.

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Antioxidant Water Booster: This was another product that I received to test out. I wasn’t sure how I would like this because I’m not really one for adding flavors to my water. Normally they end up too sweet or the flavor is off. This water booster has the following main ingredients:

  1. Green Tea
  2. White Tea
  3. Grape Seed Extract
  4. Infused with Goji and Maqui Berry

Using the stopper, I added some of the booster to my water. The flavor was actually better than I anticipated. I was sweet because of the berries but it wasn’t over sweet. The flavor didn’t have a weird aftertaste or anything like that. Another thing that I love about this water booster is that it is sugar-free, calorie-free and decaffeinated.

According to the bottle the benefits of using this water boost are:

  1. May support the body’s natural detoxification
  2. Formulated with concentrated polyphenols
  3. Supports the body’s defense against the effects of free radicals
  4. Absorbable and easily digestible

I can’t really test most of those benefits because they have to do with my body and what is going on inside. What I can say, is that if these benefits appeal to you (which they definitely appeal to me which is why I’m still using them) than I would definitely recommend you give this a try.

 

Power Dose Vitamin C & XYY Face Cream: These two samples came together and you’ll see why in a second. The Power Dose Vitamin C is a facial oil that you mix with the face cream for added benefits. Both are considered anti-aging products.

The Power Dose Vitamin C oil has the following benefits:

  1. Helps smooth
  2. Helps firm
  3. Improves clarity

The XYY Face Cream has the following benefits:

  1. Antioxidant infused
  2. Calms skin

When it comes to ANY anti-aging products, I’m a firm believer that you need to be using the product for quite some time to really notice results. Because I only had a few samples to use, I can just tell you my personal experience for the few days that I tried the product. First, I will say that regardless, I would recommend you trying this combination if you are looking for some sort of anti-aging product. I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about this brand so I would definitely try it. This product was easy to use and to apply. The smell was amazing. My skin felt really smooth after I applied it. I used it at night so I’m not sure how it feels prior to putting makeup on. All-in-al, I would definitely recommend trying these products.

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Those are some of the products that I received to try. Let me know what you’d be interested in trying!!

xoxo,

mp

Favorite Products From 2017

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For those of you who don’t know, I’m a product junkie. I love buying and testing new products. I wanted to share some of my favorite products here with you!

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  • Living Proof Restore Perfecting Spray: I’ve been using this product for probably over a year but I love it. I really do feel like it has improved my hair over time. My hair doesn’t feel as damaged as it did before. My hair is shinier than it was before too. I love this spray! I use it before I start styling my hair because this is also a heat protectant. If you haven’t tried this product yet, you need to!
  • Maybelline Baby Skin Primer: This is literally my favorite primer. I don’t think I can use any other primer after this one. I have large pores and black heads. So this primer legit makes my face look pore-less after I put my makeup on. Of course, it’s not perfect but it’s close enough for me! I would definitely recommend this.
  • Maybelline Fit Me Foundation: I love this foundation! I started using it because during the summer my face gets oily and this is a Matte product. I was a bit skeptical at first but after trying it a few different times, I fell in love. This product keeps my face matte all day.
  • Urban Decay Mattifying Finishing Spray: So the first time I used this product was actually at my cousins Sweet 16. We were all getting ready and they used this spray on my face to set my make-up. I was a little skeptical at first but at the end of the night, in Florida heat I might add, my make-up was still looking amazing. I ended up going to Ulta when I came back from Florida and bought my own! I’ve been using it every day and still love it.

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  • IT Brow Power: I went to Ulta to just shop around one day and it just happened to be the same day at the IT Cosmetic promotions, so their product was everywhere. I walked past a few different products and this one caught my eye. I get my eye brows tinted every couple of weeks but I decided that I needed something to help me get through the weeks between my brow dye. I truly love this product. It’s super easy to apply and goes on super smooth. Plus, the other end is a brow brush. Not much more then you need!
  • Maybelline Master Chrome: I got this highlighter in a Bless Box and this is the very first highlighter that I have ever used. I know that is really hard to believe but it’s true! I had to watch some videos on how to properly apply it because I didn’t want to look dumb! Ha! Anyways, I absolutely love this highlighter. It goes on smooth and the shimmer is just enough for me. You can check out my Instagram (@MeganA.Perez) for different pictures showing off this product.

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  • Almay One Coat Thickening: I got this mascara because I was wanting to try a new brand. For some reason, when I wear mascara, by the end of the day, my eyes start to burn from the makeup. So, this brand really has made a difference in my makeup routine. I found that this brand doesn’t irritate my eyes at the end of the day. I still get great lash coverage without the burn at the end of the day!
  • Naked Skin Concealer: I got a sample of this product and fell in love with it. It gave me some great coverage under my eyes, which is where I used it the most. It was easy to use and didn’t clump up upon application.

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  • Physicians Formula Bronze Booster: My aunt actually recommended this product to me. I ran out of bronzer and she mentioned I should try this brand. Well, I’m glad that I did! It comes with its own brush and mirror so that I can easily apply it where I want it. I have to wear glasses because I don’t have good eyesight so trying to lean against the sink to look at what I’m doing in the mirror isn’t always easy. But the mirror with this compact makes it super easy for me.

There you go! These were my favorite products from 2017. I’ve already got some new products that I’m loving for 2018 that I can’t wait to share with you! You tell me, what were your favorite products from 2017? Leave a comment below!

Love you guys!

xoxo

Obsessed or Nah?

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I wanted to share some products that I have been currently obsessing with and some that I probably could live without. So let’s get into it!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERACetaphil Oil Control Face Wash: growing up I wasn’t allowed to wear make up until I was 18 (crazy, I know). But while at the time I hated it, I’m actually very grateful my mom did that. I learned at a young age the importance of skin care. So, when I started wearing make-up, I knew I need to have products that give my skin a deep clean. Because my skin is also naturally oily, I wanted to try this face wash to see how it would help me control my oily skin a little bit better. I’ve been using this product at night to give my face a good deep clean and remove all the product and dirt from the day that my skin has. Let me just tell you, my face has never felt so clean. This product does an amazing job at removing all makeup from my face. It has also helped my oil control as well. I noticed during the day my skin isn’t as shiny as it used to be prior to using this product, which of course I love. My skin has cleared up some (I’ve been experiencing break outs and red patches) and my oily skin is under control. Definitely obsessed!

Covergirl Healthy Elixar: okay so I received this product free for testing purposes through influenster. I was really excited to try a new foundation, because I’ve become a product junkie really. I was really excited to try this as soon as it arrived. The day that I tried it, the only downside was it wasn’t the right shade for me. I felt like the shade made my face look more on the orange side. So I ended up taking part of it off and mixing it with my previous foundation. I will say it was very easy to apply, very smooth, and the coverage was great for me. It was a medium to full coverage which is something I love because I do have some redness on my cheeks. I wore it all day and to be honest it didn’t feel much different than my other L’Oréal foundation. I would purchase this product if I just felt like using something different. It wouldn’t be an everyday product for me.

Maybelline Fit Matte Poreless Foundation: I will say this product has become an obsession for me. Like I mentioned earlier, I have oily skin. So keeping my makeup looking fresh and not overly shiny is a struggle for me. This product keeps my face matte practically all day. I won’t say that it’s perfect because I do have moments every now and then where I need to blot some shininess from my face, but it no where near as much as it used to be. The coverage is great (medium-full), the application is smooth and easy and lasts all day long. For those who have oily skin, this is definitely a product I would recommend.

Eva NYC Mane Magic: I got this product free for testing purposes from Influenster. I’ve used it multiple times and do love the way my hair feels after using it. I’ve even sprayed my hair after it’s dried to give it a fresh look. I would definitely recommend this product. It helps prime your hair before styling, which is always a good thing when you’re using heat. Easy to apply, doesn’t leave my hair super oily after using it. And it smells great!

There you have it! This weeks obsessions! Xoxo

What products are you obsessed with?! Let me know below so I can give them a try!